Life through me a curve Tuesday night. But I still managed to hit the ball. Whether it’s a base hit, double, triple or even home run is yet to be determined. But for now I’m just running like heck for home plate.

How’s that for a baseball metaphor?

My car’s engine suddenly developed a very baaaad sounding noise as I started it up Tuesday night in the Kroger parking lot after doing my weekly shopping. After staring vainly under the hood for a few moments (what did I think I was going to find? One of those trunk monkeys going crazy on my engine???) I took up an offer for a ride home an older gentleman offered me. I got my groceries put away, called my insurance company, finally getting a chance to use the roadside assistance towing I’ve paid $1/mo for and got my poor baby up to the mechanic I trust in Hillsboro Village.

Yesterday morning they broke the news to me. "It’s dead, Jim."— or in this case, Lu. I promptly got a case of adrenaline-itis. That is, I got a rush of energy that resulted in not only securing a pre-approved loan from my bank, but also in further researching several cars I’ve considered buying for some time, to cleaning my kitchen from top to bottom. Yes, I was a cleaning machine! I was in the process of starting on the bathroom when the adrenaline finally ran out and I crashed on the couch for a couple of hours.

Since then I’m bumming rides from co-workers and my wonderful (have I mentioned lately I looooove living here) landlady/friend, Donna, to get to and from work. And I’m researching cars like mad.

I’m looking at used and new. There are pluses and minuses to every car I’ve looked at, which, I guess, is true with just about everything in life. You get more in one area, but sacrifice something in another in return.

I’m living with a constant state of nervousness. I want with all my heart to make the best choice I can, but no matter which way I go I’m spending money I don’t have. I hate debt. I hate it with a passion. But there are just some things I believe are worth going into debt for. A good, reliable car is one of them.

In spite of the nerves, I’m convinced God protected me and will provide. My car died in the safest of places: a parking lot. Not on the freeway late at night, or in the Appalachians where it would have cost a fortune to tow it anywhere. Not even on city streets full of traffic and tired drivers frustrated at another obstacle between them and home or work.

And while I’m not financially in the "perfect" place I wanted to be at the point I bought a new car —honestly, I’m not sure I’d ever have gotten to that "perfect" place. I have a tendency to move the goal posts on myself— I do have enough to put a good chunk of change on a down payment.

He provided this last car at just the time I needed. It got me all around LA during
the most difficult time in my life, took me across the country and then back and forth between South Carolina and Nashville quite a few times. I named him Col. Jack O’Neill, after the character of the same name from the Stargate SG-1 tv series. The O’Neill of the series, played by Ricky Dean Anderson, was a cranky, irascible, but completely lovable "old" man who hated being ordered around, never did as he was told and complained a lot while doing stuff. That was my car. irascible, but completely lovable; obstinate, cranky and old. But I loved him a whole lot. God gave him to me and I never forgot His generosity — nor the generosity of my friends, David and Gina, who so graciously lent the Colonel to me for my first four months back in the States, then sold him to me a couple of months later.

God will provide this time. He already has. I just want to make a choice here that will honor God with the money He’s provided. Please Pray that I do just that.

Say Goodnight, Gracie.
Goodnight Gracie.